Carbonatite Volcanism

Presents the results of a recent survey on the field relationships, volcanology, geochemistry and petrology of Oldoinyo Lengai, Tanzania, which is the only presently active carbonatite volcano. The peculiarities of carbonatite flows and their low eruptive temperatures are described.

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This volume represents the results of the most recent research on the field relationships, volcanology, geochemistry and petrology of Oldoinyo Lengai in Tanzania (East Africa), the only active carbonatite volcano. Peculiarities of carbonatite flows such as the highly sodic composition, their unique mineralogy, their low eruptive temperatures and viscosities, as well as their association with nephelinitic and phonolitic flows, are of major interest to igneous petrologists. There is a wealth of new data, including the role of carbonatitic melts as metasomatizing agents in the Earth's mantle.